Thursday, March 3, 2016

Ornate Shikhar of Kedareshwar Temple, Balligavi(Karnatak)

Ornate Shikhar of Kedareshwar Temple, Balligavi(Karnatak)
Dated: 11th century CE
The dome is the largest monolithic sculptural piece in the temple with ground surface area of about 2x2 meters and is called the "amalaka".
The superstructures over the shrines are 3-tiered (tritala arpita) vesara (combination of south and north Indian style) with the sculptural details being repeated in each tier. The temple exhibits other standard features present in a Hoysala style temple: the large decorative domed roof over the tower; the kalasha on top of it (the decorative water-pot at the apex of the dome); and the Hoysala crest (emblem of the Hoysala warrior stabbing a lion) over the sukhanasi (tower over the vestibule).